GHAR Weekly E-mail

Questions regarding dues should be directed to Kathy Ludwig at kathy@ghar.info.

INFORMATION SESSION: JANUARY 18 - THE BEST OF THE LEGAL HOTLINE
Join Jim Goldsmith, Esq., attorney with Caldwell & Kearns, to discuss the best of PAR's Legal Hotline. Over the years, Jim has handled thousands of Legal Hotline calls from REALTORS^® from across the state. Some issues are static, others are short-lived and some emerge, disappear and re-emerge. Come find out what are the “hot issues” being asked by hotline callers and what you can do to minimize your risk. This information session, done in a question and answer interview format, will both be informative and entertaining.

The information session will be held in the GHAR classroom, Enola. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. and the program starts at 10:00 a.m. Cost is $7.00 for members. Register online at www.ghar.info or call (717) 364-3200. Please remember, reservations not cancelled by Tuesday, January 17 at 5:00 p.m. will be billed.

2012 COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Thank you to all of our members who volunteered to serve the Association and the industry by serving on a committee - you do make a difference! If you are interested in serving on any Association committees in 2012, please notify the Association as soon as possible. The Association is creating our 2012 committees. If you were an active member of a committee in 2011, you will be automatically assigned to serve on that committee again in 2012. If you were not an active member of the committee, you will be removed from the committee. If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Cuddeford or Kathy Ludwig at (717) 364-3200.

ORIENTATION
Orientation is required for all new REALTOR^® members. You must meet this requirement within the first two offerings of applying for membership. Learn what it means to be a REALTOR^®, your obligation to abide by our Code of Ethics, and the many benefits and services that the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^®has to offer. A boxed lunch is provided by the sponsor of the orientation. Orientation will be held on the following dates and times: (Registration begins at 9:45 a.m.)
January 12, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - sponsored by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
February 23, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - sponsored by McNaughton Homes

Remember failure to attend orientation as required may result in paying an additional application fee.

MARCH ICI BREAKFAST - THURSDAY, MARCH 1
The March ICI Breakfast is sponsored by the Bill Gladstone Group of NAI CIR. The breakfast will be held at the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^® office, 424 N. Enola Drive, Enola. This breakfast will follow the networking format. Attendees are encouraged to bring marketing materials to the meeting and to utilize the Marketing Exchange Table. Registration is at 7:50 a.m. Breakfast begins at 8:00 a.m. Reservations are required by noon on Wednesday, February 29. Register online at www.ghar.info or call (717) 364-3200.

SAVE-THE-DATE: NEW ICI SIGNATURE EVENT - THURSDAY, MAY 3
Please save the date for a brand new ICI event in 2012. The “ICI Signature Event” will take place in the evening on Thursday, May 3. Please watch for more details about this can’t-miss event!

GREATER HARRISBURG REALTORS^® INSTITUTE
GHRI has a complete schedule of classes designed to meet your Continuing Education needs. Call 364-3205 for course information.

CONTINUING EDUCATION AND LICENSE RENEWAL DEADLINE - MAY 31, 2012
The continuing education requirement to renew your real estate license is 14 continuing education hours by the deadline of May 31, 2012. For licensees licensed between December 1, 2009 and November 30, 2011, you have must take the required courses. The two required courses are the General Module and the Residential Module or the Commercial Module. For more information call (717) 364-3205.

REALTOR^® CODE OF ETHICS TRAINING DEADLINE - DECEMBER 31, 2012
Every four years, a REALTOR^® is required to take 2 ½ hours of ethics training.

GHRI has developed a 3 ½ hour course, Ethical Behavioral in a Wired World that fulfills the Code of Ethics Training requirement in addition to being approved for 3 ½ hours of continuing education. Choose from the following dates and times:
January 19, 1:00 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.
    January 20, 8:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
    February 21, 1:00 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.
    March 7, 8:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.
    March 26, 1:00 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.
    April 24, 1:00 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.
    May 9, 8:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

Note: The official registration and financial information of the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS^® Foundation may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999.

DICK BETTS IS RETURNING!
Here is the class schedule:

Wednesday April 11
    8:30 am -noon Smartphones, Tablets and Pads...Oh My? CE approved
    1:00 pm -4:30 pm Today's Top Technology Trends CE approved

Thursday April 12
    8:30 am-noon Where's Your Next Client? CE approved
    1:00 pm - 4:30 pm Do you Have the Personality and Business Plan to Succeed?
For complete class descriptions click here, or look under MLS DOCS
Classes are $35.00 each or any two for $60.00
To register: call the CPML office at 717-761-8440 or email rcrossley@cpml.com **Seating is Limited so Make Your Reservation Early**

CENTRALPENNMLS.COM
I am pleased to announce that CPML’s Consumer Facing Website is live. On this site the consumer can find up to the minute and accurate data for our area. The consumer will be able to contact the listing agent from the website. NO LEADS ARE SOLD FROM THIS WEBSITE!!! They will also be able to locate a real estate agent, a home inspector or a lender. Local area information is available and we will continue to add information to the site. Mortgage Rates will be available soon on this site. If there is any information you would like to see on this site, please send it to me. My email address is rcrossley@cpml.com

REALTORS^® PROPERTY RESOURCE (RPR)
Realtors Property Resources (RPR) lets you look at 147 million public property records in a single location? Did you know you can search for properties in your own MLS using value retention heat maps, flood maps and even school zones? The web address is www.narrpr.com. RPR IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO REALTOR^® MEMBERS, YOU WILL NEED YOUR NRDS NUMBER TO CREATE YOUR PROFILE!!!

VIEWING REPORTS IN P5
If you are having trouble viewing any reports in P5, please delete temporary files and cookies. If you are using Internet Explorer, please look under Tools/Internet Options. If you are using any other browser, please call P5 support for help.

PHOTO LABELS AND DESCRIPTIONS
Please look under MLS DOCS on the P5 system for documentation on adding labels and descriptions to your photos.

PARAGON TRAINING SCHEDULE
CPML is now offering four different classes on P5. You may come to any or all, and you may come as often as you feel is necessary. For new agents, the two Basic Classes are required.

Training classes are scheduled for the following dates: January 26, February 9, March 29, April 19, May 10 and June 21
Classes are held at the GHAR Office at 424 N. Enola Drive, Enola, PA 17025

PARAGON 5 WEBINAR TRAINING
Webinars are available for P5. You have a choice of live or prerecorded webinars. The topics will include:

P5 Essentials - Learn Navigation, Multi-Tasking, Inline Auto Complete. Customizing Searches, Emailing, Printing, Customizing Reports, Mailing Labels and Browsers.
Contact Manager and Client Connect - Learn Contact manager Wizard, Saving Searches to Client, Client Connect Customer View, Client Connect Set-up, Agent Notification.
CMA - Learn CMA Wizard, New Themes, CMA Setup and Navigation.
Listing Input - Learn Bulk Photo Upload, Inline Auto Complete, Features and Geo Coding.
Preferences - Learn how to Upload Photos and Logos, Client Connect Preferences, E-card, Market Monitor Customization and CMA Customization.

For complete schedule and registration, please see link on home page in Paragon.

PARAGON COMMUNITY SUPPORT
The feedback button at the top of your screen has been replaced by Community Support. This is an area moderated by LPS Solutions Staff as well as MLS staff. You can ask questions, share ideas, report problems and even give praise if there is something you really like in P5 or if somebody in LPS support was really great.

INCLUDE EXACT PROPERTY DIRECTIONS IN YOUR LISTINGS
Directions to a property are a very important part of your listing in the Paragon system. Please provide exact directions from a given point. Example: Starting at GHAR building, turn right on Enola Dr....... Telling an agent or consumer, if they receive the listing in an email to "Use MapQuest" is not acceptable. If you are unsure of directions, you can use MapQuest to find the directions.

CORRECTION BUTTON
The "Correction" button in the Paragon system is to notify the CPML office of an error in a listing you are viewing. When you select this function, an email window pops up; it is important that you tell us in the body of this email what the error is. We have been receiving correction emails with no mention of the error. We will not look at listings if you do not tell us what needs corrected.

PAR ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR PENNSYLVANIA BOARDS
PAR currently is taking applications for vacancies on several Pennsylvania Boards including the State Real Estate Commission, the Housing Alliance of PA, and the Federal Home Loan Bank. Members interested in serving on these Boards should apply to PAR. PAR then will select applicants to "recommend" to serve on these boards. Click here for a complete overview of the process and a list of Pennsylvania Boards. Click here to submit an application.

SAVE ON THESE NAR MARKETING MATERIALS TODAY!
We wanted to inform you first about some exciting new offerings at the completely redesigned online store, (www.REALTOR.org/Store), for the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® (NAR). They’re offering the latest must have products to help you take advantage of the changing market. They’re also giving you 10% off your next purchase when you use promotional code GH2 at checkout.

The newly designed online store has everything you need to be a successful REALTOR^® from products on:

sales and marketing
commercial
investment
home buying and selling
technology
mortgages

Visit the site often, as it is constantly updated, with offerings based on member feedback and changes in the market. Included in this special offer are items printed using the new Print on Demand Program.

Help turn a “changing” market into a marketing opportunity by visiting www.REALTOR.org/Store and take advantage of your special 10% discount today when you use code GH2 at checkout.

CARLISLE BOROUGH TO CONSIDER RENTAL HOUSING ORDINANCE
On January 12, the Carlisle Borough Council will consider an ordinance enacting programs and policies related to rental housing in the Borough. The draft ordinance is a result of recommendations made by a Rental Housing Task Force. The Task Force met throughout 2011, and it was made up of various stakeholders in the Borough. The Task Force also included two REALTOR^® members. The proposed ordinance focuses on educating rental property owners and tenants and improving communication in the Borough. The proposed ordinance does enact a rental registration program, but there is NO FEE associated with the registration. The draft ordinance also will require rental properties owners to designate a responsible agent for their property if the owner lives outside a 25 miles radius of the Borough. Most importantly however, the proposed ordinance does NOT implement a mandatory inspection program. The Borough Council is expected to consider this ordinance at its meeting on Thursday, January 12, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Click here to review a copy of the proposed ordinance on the Carlisle Borough website. For more information, please contact Sherri Pursel.

CONGRESS APPROVES FLOOD INSURANCE EXTENSION TO MAY 31, 2012
On December 17, 2011, Congress approved an extension of the authorization for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through May 31, 2012. NAR strongly supports the NFIP, which was set to expire in December. NAR has strongly advocated for a long term extension of the NFIP. Click here to read more on the NAR website.

2011 NAR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
NAR has released its comprehensive review of government affairs activities and accomplishments in 2011. Click here to visit the REALTORS^® Action Center to read the review.

SIGN-UP to be a MUNICIPAL Political CONTACT!
GHAR is still searching for volunteers to be Municipal Political Contacts. As a Political Contact, GHAR will work with you when issues impacting REALTORS^® and the real estate industry arise in your municipality. GHAR’s goal is to identify REALTORS^® from each municipality in our tri-county area to be Political Contacts. We are still in need of contacts for the following municipalities:

If you are interested in participating in this vital program, please contact Sherri Pursel.

CONTACT GHAR TO SCHEDULE A GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICE VISIT!
Is your office interested in a government affairs update during one of your sales meetings? Are you looking for more information about what is going on at the local, state, and national level? If so, please contact Sherri Pursel at the Association to schedule a Government Affairs Office Visit. Sherri will come to your office during one of your sales meetings and make a 15 to 20 minutes presentation about government affairs and the important issues facing REALTORS^® at all three levels of government. It is a great opportunity to learn more about legislative “hot topics” and what is happening in government affairs! Feel free to contact Sherri at sherri@ghar.info or by calling (717) 364-3200.

CONDOLENCES
Our condolences go out to the friends and family of Ian Clark Spitzer, owner of Spitzer Appraisal Services in Harrisburg, who recently passed away. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Hospice of Central Pennsylvania, 1320 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg, PA 17110, www.hospiceofcentralpa.org or St. Stephen's Episcopal Cathedral, 221 North Front Street Harrisburg, PA 17101-1437, www.ststep.org.

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